Newboss:
I dislike his government too. I'm not trying to have faith either.

Everything boils down to the philosophy, the way of thinking, the mindset

If you still don't get that right, chase them out and you WILL end up in massive mess in no time. You should be worse than Zimbabwe in a very short while. Investors made America, UK, etc great.

Don't try to play the nationalist game when the nation you are talking about doesn't even exist.

Hand over MTN to Nigeria and it will be worse than Glo in months.

LaudableXX:
What are they saying? MTN was granted pioneer tax status in Nigeria for 10 years, when they first started operations. And most of their equipment are bought and installed by their sub-contractors, who pay the customs duties and taxes, at point of entry. So which one is non-payment of taxes for the past 10 years for goodness sake?

Newboss:
The philosophy of the chinese is not the same as that of the average Nigerian.
Please always keep all these in perspective.

Continue reading what the Chinese did without reading who the Chinese are.

Jerrypolo:
Damn!!!

MultiChoice is next.

Then Shoprite with its chain of expired/repackaged/Substandard products to seal the fate of these economic capitalists from the South of Africa.

By the time Nigeria is through, they will understand that the "Giant" in the "Giant of Africa" is not a joke if we decide to be woke.

LaudableXX:
What are they saying? MTN was granted pioneer tax status in Nigeria for 10 years, when they first started operations. And most of their equipment are bought and installed by their sub-contractors, who pay the customs duties and taxes, at point of entry. So which one is non-payment of taxes for the past 10 years for goodness sake?

alizma:
mouth piece of/MTN lawyer you are welcome. if there is pioneer tax waiver granted to the company, you think the company forget to mention that in its defense abi or you think both MTN and FG have misplaced the documents covering such waiver?

Neoteny:
You're either South African our you're one of those hungry contract workers slaving for MTN

Mosesm:
So u sabi the law and the case pass the government? Mind you PYO is a principal shareholder of MTN

foreshore:
Are you the spokesperson of MTN abi wetin be your own Solo Makinde!!!

mfm04622:
Pioneer status is only in regard to profit on normal operation! Where did you hear that government waived import duty, VAT or withholding tax on dividend paid to foreign investors? Also, their pioneer status ended in 2011.

naijapips04:
This people would kill off the remaining foreign business cred we have as a nation.

Tell me why any other business would like to do business in Nigeria after what has happened to MTN and Etisalat. They want to chase MTN out as they did etisalat so they can share it among their cronies.

Positiveminds:
This is in connection with Withholding Tax.

“The Attorney General notified MTN that his office made a high-level calculation that MTN Nigeria should have paid approximately $2bn in taxes relating to the importation of foreign equipment and payments to foreign suppliers over the last 10 years,” a statement signed by the Public Relations Manager, MTN Nigeria Limited, Funso Aina, stated on Tuesday.

Jerrypolo:
Damn!!!

MultiChoice is next.

Then Shoprite with its chain of expired/repackaged/Substandard products to seal the fate of these economic capitalists from the South of Africa.

By the time Nigeria is through, they will understand that the "Giant" in the "Giant of Africa" is not a joke if we decide to be woke.

RevenGeMission:
Excuse me , Soldier go soldier come , Barracks remain , eventually another Telco will spring up and invest in Nigeria maybe even provide quality 4G service all over the nation, the fear of the future shouldn't make us slaves of the present

phranklean:
The Federal Government is asking MTN Nigeria to pay fresh N2bn tax arrears on imported equipment and payments to suppliers.

It was gathered that the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, in a letter to the company, said the tax arrears dated back to 10 years.

“The Attorney General notified MTN that his office made a high-level calculation that MTN Nigeria should have paid approximately $2bn in taxes relating to the importation of foreign equipment and payments to foreign suppliers over the last 10 years,” a statement signed by the Public Relations Manager, MTN Nigeria Limited, Funso Aina, stated on Tuesday.

This fresh demand is coming barely one week after the Central Bank of Nigeria asked the telecommunication company and its bankers to repatriate $8.1bn it allegedly paid as dividends between 2007 and 2015.

However, MTN Nigeria said an initial assessment of the period indicated that total payments made to the tax authorities in regard to the foreign imports and payments amounted to $700m, saying it had fully settled all taxes on the imports under scrutiny.

The company said after it presented its documentation to the Nigerian authorities, the government insisted on recovering the $2bn from it.

The latest demands come two years after MTN, Africa’s biggest telecoms company, agreed to pay more than $1bn to end a dispute with Nigeria over unregistered SIM cards and agreed to list on its stock exchange as part of the settlement.

Source: https://punchng.com/fg-demands-fresh-2bn-tax-arrears-from-mtn/

RevenGeMission:
If NCC knows that it's doing Nigerians shouldn't bear the brunt , this company has raked enough profit already and what the FG is demanding is a chicken change compared to what some stupid bankers helped MTN to launder

If NCC knows what it's doing MTN would be forced to provide quality service and no additional cost or pain to Nigerians ,

LaudableXX:

Oga, please read my initial post with understanding, before you jump to vague conclusions. Govt claims MTN did not pay taxes for 10 years, which is highly improbable. MTN cannot be held liable for not paying import duty, as their telecoms equipment were imported by their sub-contractors, and NOT directly by MTN! You need to look at their sub-contractors like Siemens, Ericsson, Vodacom, Reime, Harris Communications, etc who imported, installed and maintained telecoms equipment such as masts, switching centres, Base Transceiver Sites (BTS), antennae etc., at MTN sites.

If MTN did not pay WHT for 10 years, how did it escape the notice of the tax authorities all through those 10 years??! People need to ask relevant questions, please! Their annual reports have always been published both locally and internationally, so why wasn't it challenged since by govt? Where did MTN get the figures they have been posting under payment of taxes, and how come no govt agency ever challenged it all this while?

rman:
You are the one of the reasonable fellow on this thread, if not this site.

Most Nigerians lack the capability to see the bigger picture.

What this govt is trying to do is take over that company. It is quite clear right from the first year.

It is no coincedence that they are being attacked by different govt agencies including NLC.

Is the govt saying MTN cooporate governance and ethics is worst than GLOs?

LaudableXX:

Oga, please read my initial post with understanding, before you jump to vague conclusions. Govt claims MTN did not pay taxes for 10 years, which is highly improbable. MTN cannot be held liable for not paying import duty, as their telecoms equipment were imported by their sub-contractors, and NOT directly by MTN! You need to look at their sub-contractors like Siemens, Ericsson, Vodacom, Reime, Harris Communications, etc who imported, installed and maintained telecoms equipment such as masts, switching centres, Base Transceiver Sites (BTS), antennae etc., at MTN sites.

If you go to Cash N'Carry to buy a Panasonic air-conditioner, should the govt ask you whether you paid import duty on it, and tell you to go and bring evidence of import duty paid? Or should they go to the company or importer who brought such goods into the country, and then sold it to you, to ask for such evidence of import duty? Which option is the correct one?

If MTN did not pay WHT for 10 years, how did it escape the notice of the tax authorities all through those 10 years??! People need to ask relevant questions, please! Their annual reports have always been published both locally and internationally, so why wasn't it challenged since by govt? Where did MTN get the figures they have been posting under payment of taxes, and how come no govt agency ever challenged it all this while?

LaudableXX:

Don't mind them. Majority of those jumping up and down on this thread, do not know the first thing about telecoms firms, or the way they operate. When it comes to Mobile Switching Centres (MSC) for example, it is the big telco infrastructure companies like Motorola, Ericsson and Siemens that play in this field. They are the OEMs. MTN does not manufacture one single pole, modem, RF radio or antennae for its operations.

These telco infrastructure firms bring in the equipment, sell it to MTN, Airtel, Glo and co, and then maintain it for a stipulated number of years. And they all have offices and warehouses in Lagos. So how can govt tell us that their Federal Ministry of Finance officials all over the federation, as well as tax authorities at federal and state level, including Nigerian Customs Services turned a blind eye to the fact that MTN was not paying taxes and import duties, for 10 whole years?!! Haba! Make dem dey lie, small-small nah!

If what govt is saying is actually true, then every senior staff of the Ministry of Communications, as well as Ministry of Finance, including FIRS and Customs, from the level of director upwards, should be sacked with immediate effect! They have failed woefully in this regard!

LaudableXX:

Nobody is a mouthpiece of MTN. This is just stating the facts. I have done some work for various companies in the telecoms sector in the past, so please do not open your mouth anyhow, if you have nothing valuable to contribute to the discourse.


I am a full blooded Nigerian. I have never been a contract worker. And there is nothing in your asinine response that shows you even have the remotest idea of what is being discussed. So kindly get your silly remarks, out of my mentions.


Were you the one who sold MTN's shares to PYO? Or can you show us exactly where PYO's name is listed as one of MTN's shareholders? Your clueless response shows that you are either totally ignorant, or extremely ill-informed. Educate yourself please.


Your comment does not deserve to be dignified with any meaningful response. Hug a wet transformer with wet hands please, if my remarks offend you too much!

LaudableXX:

Don't mind them. Majority of those jumping up and down on this thread, do not know the first thing about telecoms firms, or the way they operate. When it comes to Mobile Switching Centres (MSC) for example, it is the big telco infrastructure companies like Motorola, Ericsson and Siemens that play in this field. They are the OEMs. MTN does not manufacture one single pole, modem, RF radio or antennae for its operations.

These telco infrastructure firms bring in the equipment, sell it to MTN, Airtel, Glo and co, and then maintain it for a stipulated number of years. And they all have offices and warehouses in Lagos. So how can govt tell us that their Federal Ministry of Finance officials all over the federation, as well as tax authorities at federal and state level, including Nigerian Customs Services turned a blind eye to the fact that MTN was not paying taxes and import duties, for 10 whole years?!! Haba! Make dem dey lie, small-small nah!

If what govt is saying is actually true, then every senior staff of the Ministry of Communications, as well as Ministry of Finance, including FIRS and Customs, from the level of director upwards, should be sacked with immediate effect! They have failed woefully in this regard!

SimplePlan34:
I am no buhari fan but kudos to this administration for putting their foot to the ground. These foreign companies come to Nigeria to evade tax take the profit out of Nigeria. Put their ppl in key positions and the country is left in poverty. Pls no sentiment let mtn pay up.

LaudableXX:

Nobody is a mouthpiece of MTN. This is just stating the facts. I have done some work for various companies in the telecoms sector in the past, so please do not open your mouth anyhow, if you have nothing valuable to contribute to the discourse.


I am a full blooded Nigerian. I have never been a contract worker. And there is nothing in your asinine response that shows you even have the remotest idea of what is being discussed. So kindly get your silly remarks, out of my mentions.


Were you the one who sold MTN's shares to PYO? Or can you show us exactly where PYO's name is listed as one of MTN's shareholders? Your clueless response shows that you are either totally ignorant, or extremely ill-informed. Educate yourself please.


Your comment does not deserve to be dignified with any meaningful response. Hug a wet transformer with wet hands please, if my remarks offend you too much!

LaudableXX:

You do not know anything about how telcos operate, so kindly educate yourself. It is only in Nigeria, that telcos have to provide 2 generators at every Base Transceiver Site (BTS), because your power infrastructure is in shambles. It is only in Nigeria, that telcos have to pay state govts exorbitant amounts for right-of-way (ROW) to lay fibre-optic cables, in order to provide telecom services to the public. It is only in Nigeria, that BTS locations are vandalised routinely by miscreants, local govt agents and indigenous community members/youths, with their valuable equipment stolen, because they want to extort money from the telcos. Equipment ranging from air-conditioners in telecom shelters, to switches LNBs or BUCs as well as diesel gensets, are stolen daily from different BTS sites nationwide, and this has a negative impact on the telco's network. How can good services be provided, in the midst of so many constraints? Yet, the telcos are doing their best to still provide such services despite all these challenges.

Nothing was laundered by any bank. The money that MTN earned as revenue from its services was kept in the banks, and repatriated to their parent company or their home country. So the word 'launder' does not apply to MTN's operations, in this case.

Neoteny:
Earliest sign of a frustrated, derelict life.

Clearly this jobless idiot is unhinged.

And unemployed.

alizma:
your statement present you like someone who has not been to school to have known that if there is tax waiver for a company like mtn, there would definitely be document covering that

RevenGeMission:
Will you shutup ?? BTS, ROW , LNB BUC and whatever the hell you conjure up as excuse does not absolve mtn of wrong doing , we are talking about TAXA here , yes MTN laundered money if you don't know that again , please shut up

More importantly , MTN knew the condition in the country before investing in telecom in Nigeria , try and be sensible

thank you

mfm04622:
There is tax evation and there is tax avoidance. FG did not say MTN DID NOT pay tax, FG said MTN UNDERPAID taxes. Big difference.
Sometimes, the end user is held liable for taxes on imported goods. For example, duty on vehicle. If duty is not paid on imported vehicles, govt will seize the vehicle from the present owner even when the owner was not the importer.
It has escaped govt notice before, now they have observed it. Should govt allow MTN to cheat us? Nigerians should be happy govt is pursuing tax defaulters.

LaudableXX:


Each time you open your mouth, the emptiness in your brain becomes apparent. Anyway, I don't blame you. You were not taught rational analysis and deduction in school. You failed to learn anything, despite all the amount expended on your education. You claim MTN 'laundered' money. Do you even know what it means to 'launder' money? What kind of gibberish are you spewing forth? Unfortunately, I am not in the mood to give you a free tutorial today. Look for educationally challenged clowns like yourself, to bandy words with.

Akainzo:
Bros, cool down and read to actually understand business and not the telecomms equipment structures.
Even though MTN is not the OEM for the telecomms equipment, it is actually MTN that imports them into the country. Siemens does not bring its equipment to keep on stores for buyers to come, the business that need them do the imports. The same operates in all other businesses. Toyota does not bring its cars to Nigeria, all Toyotas are IMPORTED by a particular business, either by an end user or a company in car retail business.

It is very much possible to import things into Nigeria and not pay the right import duties due to CORRUPTION. Even our own Senate President imported a car and didn't want to pay duties, how much more a company that has the resources to bribe customs personnel. So long as the crime has not gone beyond the statute of limitations, it can be prosecuted and recovered.

Fraud is uncovered daily across the world. If you follow football, Messi, Ronaldo and Mourinho have been charged with underpaying taxes as well. It is only when reconciliations are done that underpayments are discovered, and the discovery of one instance could lead to further digging that would uncover a culture of such underpayments.

RevenGeMission:
I bet you just got out of a ban cos i haven't been seeing your stupid writeups, but i am certain you will be going back there soon because of your big mouth

Typical of every wailer i know on this forum, your contributions are usually insults and complains , nothing tangible , meaningful or rational in your posts , You can take that free tutorial and shove it up someone in your household's arse cos i do not need it and will not be needing it anytime soon

Bottom line remains MTN evaded tax , People like Messi, Ronaldo and hosts of other world players are being tried and jailed / fined for tax evasion

In a bold move MTN forcefully and secretly repatriated funds without paying Nigerian Government , that alone is an affront and MTN should be sued or shutdown

if you do not comprehend any of that , then it's time to start looking into your so called education

LaudableXX:

You are pained, because I questioned the gibberish your friend was posting. Eeyah....try not to kill yahself. Anyway, like I said to someone else earlier, I am not interested in the emptiness of those who constantly have nothing to contribute, but think they would be taken seriously, by the number of insults they spew out.